Follow up appointments, possible change of team...
Hi All I am two years out from a stage 2 triple positive IDC diagnosis. I have completed chemo, surgery, targeted therapy and am on hormonal therapy for at least three more years. I see my oncologist and surgeon once a year each, at a 6mth interval. I recently completed my annual ultrasound and then went to my booked appointment with my surgeon. When I arrived, I was advised that she is now contracting to that surgery and wasn't in that day. Apparently she now only attends there once a month and her main surgery is now a 40min drive from where I live. No one had informed me of this or called to reschedule my appointment. I have re-booked an appointment for a couple of weeks time (when the surgeon will be at the surgery close to me). They have advised that due to the extended timing, my GP referral will have run out and I need a new one, so I now need to book in with my GP for a referral. I am really frustrated becuase I have to take time off work for all these appointments, but worse that no one seems to care - the receptionist hardly even apologised! I had to call and check that they still have my medical records becuase it felt like I wasn't even a patient anymore. These appointments are stressful enough without all this mucking around! Given that I need follow ups for at least the next three years, I am wondering whether anyone has changed their medical team and if so, whether there were any issues?? Also feel free to tell me that it is a bad idea to change and that I should just suck up the appointment mistake and move on! Thanks, Suki xx
Follow -up/monitoring at conclusion of treatment
I have 4 more rads to go to complete my treatment (also on Letrazone). I had initial surgery as a private patient and then due to a bit of a complication was referred on to public for radiation treatment. I was extremely happy with my private surgeon - not so the oncologist she works with. The doctors/therapists at the public hospital have generally been fantastic and I can’t fault the treatment I have received. Of course being a public hospital I have not always seen the same dr or nurse. My dilemma is what to do at conclusion of treatment. If it worked I would like to return to my original surgeon, but not so her oncologist. I have yet to ask what the follow-up involves - I assume visits & tests at different intervals. Wondering if I can have feedback from you lovely people as to who you see in this period. Is it the breast surgeon or the oncologist or a combination of both. I have yet to ask this question at hospital because I haven’t seen my original oncologist recently. I also probably have a preference for the private rooms as opposed to the hospital clinic. Not sure which way to go?
